Philopappou

About Philopappou

Philopappou, also known as Philopappos Hill or the Hill of the Muses, is one of the wooded hills southwest of the Acropolis in Athens. The summit is marked by the Monument of Philopappos, a funerary monument erected by the Athenians in AD 114–116 for Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, a benefactor of the city and prince of Commagene. Built mainly of white Pentelic marble, the monument includes a burial chamber and a richly decorated façade with figures and inscriptions identifying Philopappos and members of his dynasty. The wider hill preserves archaeological features alongside its natural landscape. Rock-cut caves known as the Prison of Socrates lie on the slopes, while Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris stands among the surrounding monuments. In the 1950s, architect Dimitris Pikionis created stone-paved paths and resting areas across the western Acropolis hills, connecting the archaeological landscape with the Acropolis approaches. The elevated paths provide views of the Acropolis, Athens and the sea. Philopappou is therefore both a historical site and an urban viewpoint, with rough stone paving and natural ground on parts of the hill.

Sources

• accessibleroutes.thisisathens.org
• green-athens.gr
• odysseus.culture.gr
• www.thisisathens.org

Checked 2026-09-02

Where it is

• 45 min

  1 min walk

  Philopappos Monument

  • Must see · Heritage site
  • Historic monument
• 45 min

  5 min walk

  Ancient ruins

  • High
  • Historic monument
• 45 min

  6 min walk

  Odeon of Herodes Atticus

  • Must see · Heritage site
  • Historic monument

External links

• View on Wikidata